CYPRIOT GOLDEN CODGERS 13-ENGL.LANG.and FRIENDS 12

There is something poetic in watching 6 people (some of whom are fathers or husbands or marines-to-be [right Matthew?]) hanging on the fences of a football pitch desperately trying to avoid the flood bordering the field all around. Rain was pouring, but nothing could keep them away from the ball waiting for them at the center of the field...and there they were, the Codgers at their finest: another match...another victory! The surface was slippery and the adversaries hostile and ready for the battle; and a battle indeed was, but with our heroes always in control, although the team of the terrible twins Ersoy and Ersan managed to come from behind and fill a two-goals-gap for four times. But Ravi was again unstoppable: 5 goals, 2 assists and his return ticket to the US canceled (too good to be given back to San Jose' Earthquakes) always on the move and on his toes like a young Cassius Clay; Amin was a machine made for football, starting as full-back but ending as relentless adjunct forward: 4 goals (two of them with killer shots from distance) for the iron man from Iran; Will again the indestructible midfielder with license to steal balls as thieves could smoothly pickpocket wallets: his legs are swirling like windmill's arms, a real nightmare for any opposition; Matthew was solid as a rock in defense and cool as a cucumber in front of the goal when in one of its rare Custer's cavalry runs he asked for a return pass from Ravi and killed the goalkeeper with a stunning flick of his left foot: first goal for the Codgers and hurrah for the charismatic archaeologist from Iowa; Luca added to Codgers' glory 3 goals, one of which the result of a terrific volley from 25 meters that lobbied the astonished keeper; eventually, the youngest of the Codgers, Can, guaranteed calm and tranquility in goal by saving his net at least twice with remarkable interventions combining pure bravery with instinct.

So the Codgers did it again and cannot wait for the re-match scheduled for next Friday at 17 o'clock: let's hope for a better weather and a little bit of supporters: the Codgers are, indeed, a true joy to behold!